1879 $4 Coiled Hair, Judd-1638, Pollock-1838, R.6. PR67 Cameo
NGC....

Description

Superb Gem Cameo Proof 1879 Coiled Hair Stella

1879 $4 Coiled Hair, Judd-1638, Pollock-1838, R.6. PR67 Cameo
NGC. The Morgan Design. Reeded Edge. One of the very finest
known of this ever popular and elusive issue. The surfaces are very
bright and reflective in the fields, while the devices are thick
with frost. For the collector, the quality of the coin is always a
paramount issue, and this particular specimen is simply stunning
for the quality and for the excellent contrast. Examination with a
10X loupe finds little evidence of handling, and anything noted is
extremely faint. There is a very thin broken scratch hidden in
Liberty's hair behind her temple which runs horizontal to the right
and ends above Liberty's ear. Another extremely faint line extends
down the back of Liberty's head right of her ear and can only be
seen at certain angles and with a strong loupe and light. The
fields and balance of the obverse are essentially the quality as
the day they were coined. We note a minute planchet flake in the
field between the serif of the G and Liberty's mouth, and a very
short lint mark in the field between her bun and the A close to the
rim. Morgan might have hand cut the letters of LIBERTY in the
crown, as they are awkward in appearance and we suspect no die
punches would be available that would both decrease in size in a
uniform fashion as well as shrink toward the right side on each
letter, fitting the angular shape of Liberty's crown. This
particular coin shows this feature clearly as the coin has a sharp
strike and none of the striation lines seen on the other specimen
in this sale from this same die pairing. Numerous minor repunchings
are seen on the obverse inscription, notably the central serif of
the 3, the first S, the serif of both 7s, the A and stars eleven
and twelve. The reverse shows the post of the D well above the
final placement, and this repunched feature is present on all
Stellas, as they were struck with the same reverse die. One very
short lint mark is found on the reverse, which hangs down from the
O in GLORIA down to the lower right. The star dentils are sharp on
this particular coin, including those on the lower arms, an area
which is often found poorly struck on these coins. The combined NGC
and PCGS population reports show a total of five coins graded this
high, although the one PCGS coin is not a Cameo. The other four NGC
coins (including the present coin) are all Cameo examples. No Ultra
Cameo coins have been graded by NGC and no Deep Cameo coins have
been graded by PCGS of this issue. One can only conclude that the
present specimen is tied for the finest seen with three other coins
of this enormously popular issue.
The following is the census of this issue by Mark Borckardt.1.Garrett Specimen. Choice Brilliant Proof. Ex: Bangs &
Co., 1/6/1882; John Work Garrett; John Hopkins University; Bowers
and Ruddy 11/1979: 431 $115,000; Auction '80: 385 $175,000;
Superior, 5/1987: 2444 $165,000.
Identifiable by: The obverse has a spot above the 8 and others
inside the loops of this digit. Other spots are in front of the
neck and between star 1 and the dentils. There is also a toning
spot in the hair below Y of LIBERTY. The reverse has a spot inside
the dentils between F and A. There is a spot on the top right serif
of the second L in STELLA.2. Neil Specimen. Gem Brilliant Proof. B. Max Mehl, 6/1947:
2603 sold as part of a set for $3,850; Grant Pierce; Stack's,
8/1976: 2920 sold as part of a set for $225,000.
Identified by a spot midway between the 9 and the bust truncation,
left of center over the 9.3. Kern Specimen. Gem Brilliant Proof. Ex: B. Max Mehl,
1950: 243 sold as part of a set for $4,100; Amon Carter, Sr.; Amon
Carter, Jr.; Stack's, 1/1984: 632 $88,000.
The plate in the Carter catalog suggests a very minor toning spot
on the obverse rim below the right side of the 8. Otherwise, no
pedigree markers are apparent.4. DiBello Specimen. Brilliant Proof. Stack's, 5/1970:
796.
The plate suggests a small spot attached to the side of the star
above E in ONE. This may be a printing defect and not a spot on the
coin. The obverse appears to have a small spot between the hair and
C. A faint toning area appears over the left side of the 9.5. Champa Specimen. Proof-63 (NGC). Bowers and Ruddy,
5/1972: 521 $29,000; Sotheby's, 9/1982: 250 $61,600; Stack's,
10/27/1983: 57 $74,800; Bowers and Merena 8/1995: 307 $137,500;
Heritage 9/1998: 7105.
The obverse has several small spots including: between star 1 and
the rim, in the field right of the junction of the hair and neck,
and two others right of the hair and bun. A small lint mark,
resembling the numeral 6, is located behind the hair bun below R.
The reverse has a spot just inside the dentils at 4:30 and others
at the base of D and L in DOL. (This coin is offered in the
present sale as a separate lot).6. Trompeter Specimen. Gem Brilliant Proof. Superior,
10/1974: 133 $105,000; Stack's, 6/1978: 828 $90,000; Ed Trompeter
Collection; Superior, 2/1992: 134 $198,000; Stack's, 10/1995: 1547
$220,000.
The obverse has a minute spot below the right foot of M. The
reverse has a vertical line-like impairment from the edge of the
star over D of DOL.7.The Present Specimen, Western Collection Specimen. Gem
Brilliant Proof. Stack's, 12/1981: 1137 $80,000.
The obverse has a spot between the eye and 3. The reverse has small
spots over the star and beneath N and M of UNUM.8. Eliasberg Specimen. Proof-67. Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr.;
Louis E. Eliasberg, Jr.; Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982: 317 $101,750;
Superior, 1/1985: 1766 $95,000; Superior 10/1991: 3389
The obverse has a spot just above the hair below star 6. The
reverse has a spot on the rim below U of FOUR and another on the
star between the E of ONE and first L of STELLA.9. Memorable Specimen. Proof-65 (PCGS). Numismatic Gallery,
"Memorable" Collection (J.F. Bell), 3/1948: 280; Bowers and Merena,
7/28/1997: 359 $231,000; Spectrum Numismatics. Illustrated in
Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of United States and Colonial Proof
Coins 1722-1989.
The obverse has a spot centered vertically below star 1, another
between the digit 6 and throat but closer to the throat, and below
the left side of G in GRAMS. The reverse has a spot at the dentil
tips below the left edge of O in DOL.10. Smithsonian Specimen. National Numismatic Collection,
Smithsonian Institution.11. Lilly Specimen. Smithsonian Institution.12. Texas Specimen. Dr. Wilkison Collection; Texas
Collection.13. Stack's Specimen. Stack's FPL Summer 1997 offered as
part of a four piece set for $875,000
The obverse has an oblong spot between star 2 and the rim.From The Gold Rush Collection.(#88058)(Registry
values: P3) (NGC ID# 28B2, PCGS# 88058)